The Skill Set

September 2026

Dispatch from the CEO

Celebrating Workforce Development Month at the Ohio Workforce Association Conference

Last week, several staff members presented at the Ohio Workforce Association (OWA)'s Annual Workforce Training Conference. Day one of the conference included a presentation by Greater Cleveland Works COO Laura Chalker and Tom McGraw, Director of Sector Partnership at MAGNET, about driving better outcomes through customized training.

On the second day, I gave a presentation alongside my Greater Cleveland Works colleagues Serena Jezior, Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Ian Marks, Manager of Employer Solutions, with Lindsey Parada, Job Seeker Services Manager at United Labor Agency, about transforming job matching with predictive analytics.

It was great connecting with colleagues from across the state for these important conversations as we celebrate Workforce Development Month.

Thanks for reading,

Michelle Rose

Chief Executive Officer

Greater Cleveland Works

At the September 4 board meeting, we welcomed six new board members appointed by Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.

The new members bring extensive experience in talent acquisition, human resources, workforce planning, government relations, vocational rehabilitation, and employer workforce strategy. Together, they strengthen our connection to some of Greater Cleveland’s most important industries and employers while bringing valuable perspectives to the organization’s work to build a more responsive, inclusive, and effective workforce system.

The new members are:

• Andrea Zadd, Director of Talent, Swagelok 
• Dr. Dalithia Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer, Oatey
• David Ogden, Vocational Rehabilitation Program Administrator, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
• Emily Monteleone, Director of Strategic Workforce Planning, Cleveland Clinic
• Jennifer Pfeifer, Director of Talent Acquisition, University Hospitals
• Patrick Bloom, Executive Vice President for Government Relations, Cleveland-Cliffs

News You Can Use

Supporting Voter Registration at the Job Center

We are using our proximity to residents as a way to remind everyone to register to vote before the upcoming registration deadline of October 5. Ask our friendly OhioMeansJobs Center staff about how to get registered to vote for the November 3 election! We can provide information, voter registration forms, and help you get the form to the Board of Elections.

We hope all of our partners and customers take time to register and vote!

Working With ...

Nancy Mendez

In this month's Working With, we sit down with Nancy Mendez, President and CEO of Starting Point to talk about Early Matters NEO and how our organizations work together. She also shares lessons learned from her first job in food service and what inspires her to do the work she does today.

Around Town

Learning About Careers

Greater Cleveland Works Board Member and Northshore AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Brian Pearson planned a great event for Big Brothers Big Sisters and local union leaders to share day in the life stories about good jobs in our community. Machinists, flight attendants, teachers, firefighters, train operators and more, shared about their jobs, helping young people (and sometimes their adults!) learn about the ins-and-outs of their jobs and life in a labor union. Thanks, Brian, for inviting us!